Possibly a stupid question..... but how active are antenatal classes?

[Orchide]

Have my first ante natal class this evening and have really no idea what to expect. Is it a case of being talked at for an hour or are we likely to be rolling around the floor doing..... i dont know what!.
Really just trying to decide what to wear! Trousers to hide my modesty in case of rolling or keep this skirt on which is very comfy and fine for chair sitting!!

Is it an NHS one or an NCT one? My NHS ones involved sitting sedately on a chair, passing round knitted breasts and cabbage leaves. I'm sure we did more than that but thats what sticks in my memory!

my nhs one was mostly just sitting on chairs except for one session that was sitting on birthing balls.

There was alot of sitting and being talked at at my NHS antenatal class but we did have to demonstrate a couple of exercises for relieving back pain and we tested a tens machine for labour (I barely remember the classes now to be honest - but they were over 2 years ago!)

i also went to an active birth class, nhs again, and that was just sitting again. gave us leaflets about positions. same with nhs waterbirth class, sitting again, and lots of leaflets. not sure if i thought we'd get in a pool though..

Fruitful - "knitted breasts and cabbage leaves" made me laugh What on earth have i let myself in for tonight? Have made DH leave Uni early tonight to come with me not sure what he would make of evening spent focused on crafty items and raw vegeatbles

Its an NHS one. So the general concensus seems to be stay in the skirt, modesty is likely to remain intact!

This thread has really made me chuckle for some reason! I felt exactly the same way before my first NHS antenatal class - I had visions of loads of earth mothers sitting around in kaftans on birthing balls and it all being very full on...

It was just a very nice midwife chatting to us and a good opportunity to meet other mums at the same stage. I think one week we did some breathing exercises, but we still remained seated! I found them really enjoyable actually. Dragged DP to one though, and wished i hadn't - he looked desperately uncomfortable the whole way through.

Same thing at my NHS one Dragged my DH to all three/Four classes and at every session the group would split into Boys & Girls or should I say Mums & Dads and my DH always came back with a bemused look on his face!

A new mum dropped by to tell us of her birth experiance but she was picked because her birth was very text book so everyone was reasured!!

Thanks all.
Well last night was pretty interesting and not a cabbage leaf in sight, although a knitted placenta and umbilical cord made an appearance. Had to endure an educational birthing video circa 1986...so lots of bad hair do's. It didnt help that the voice over man was sooo plummy- had to remind DH not to heckle too loudly! I gotta wonder...why o why do women put themselves up for such scrutiny - letting the whole world see you and your bits at your most ..how should i put this....erm, exposed